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Sausage Tortellini Soup
5 from 51 votes

Sausage Tortellini Soup

Sausage Tortellini Soup features Italian sausage simmered with onions, carrots, garlic, and kale in a beef broth base enriched with tomato paste and heavy cream. Cheese tortellini adds tender bite-sized pasta, making this soup hearty and flavorful. Italian seasoning and Parmesan garnish complete the comforting dish, ideal for a filling meal.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 473 kcal
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pork sausage sweet or hot are both fine, casings removed if you are using sausage links, ground, Italian style
  • 1 yellow onion or white onion, medium
  • 2 carrot peeled and diced into thin rounds or half moons, large
  • 1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste if necessary
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste if necessary, freshly ground
  • 3 to 5 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 6 ounces tomato paste not tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning or to taste
  • 64 ounces beef broth reduced sodium
  • 1 cup heavy cream half-and-half may be substituted
  • 9 ounce cheese tortellini or your favorite tortellini flavor and style, package refrigerated
  • 3 cups kale with very thick stems and ribs removed, torn or roughly chopped leaves
  • Parmesan Cheese optional for garnishin, freshly grated
  • fresh herbs basil, thyme, oregano, etc.; optional for garnishing, including parsley
  • parsley basil, thyme, oregano, etc.; optional for garnishing, including parsley

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. To a large Dutch oven or soup pot, add the pork, and saute over medium-high heat for about 4-5 minutes; crumble and toss with a wooden spoon as it's cooking.
  2. Add the onions, carrots, salt, pepper, and saute for about 5 minutes, or until tender; stir frequently.
  3. Add the garlic, stir, and saute for 1 minute or until fragrant; stir nearly constantly.
  4. Add the tomato paste and stir to combine.
  5. Evenly sprinkle the Italian seasoning over the top, add the beef broth, stir, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
  6. Add the heavy cream, tortellini, and continue to simmer for about 5 minutes, or until tortellini are soft and done. Tip - Use heavy cream for best results, although half-and-half may be substituted. Do not use milk, it's too thin and watery and won't help you acheive the intended flavor and texture goals.
  7. Add the kale, stir to combine, turn off the heat, and wait for 1-2 minutes, or until it has wilted.
  8. Taste the soup and make any necessary flavor adjustments. Seasoning Tips - More than likely, you will want to add more salt, at least 1 to 2 teaspoons more. Part of it will depend on how salty your pork sausage is, but also your general preference for salt. If the soup tastes at all flat, bland, boring, or like it's missing something, it likely needs more salt so don't be afraid to add it. Pepper too, although not as critical as salt tends to be. For those who want just a hint of spice, a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper will add flavor and interest, rather than just spiciness and it's a trick I often use when I want to jazz up soup. You have to add more than a pinch to actually make it spicy. Hot pepper flakes are also a nice touch here. Ironically, so is a pinch of sugar. It can balance the acidity of the tomato sauce similar to adding a pinch of sugar to pasta sauce.
  9. After you have the soup seasoned to your liking, ladle it into bowls, optionally garnish with fresh Parmesan and/or fresh herbs, and serve with crusty bread like a baguette, or homemade dinner rolls, or Parker House rolls.

Notes

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Freezing is not recommended due to cream, which can curdle upon thawing; omit cream if freezing is planned.
  • Reheat gently, either in short microwave bursts or on the stove over low heat, to preserve texture.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 473kcal (24%) Carbohydrates 29g (10%) Protein 22g (44%) Fat 31g (48%) Saturated Fat 14g (70%) Polyunsaturated Fat 17g (100%) Cholesterol 84mg (28%) Sodium 1381mg (58%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 7g (14%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 473

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 473kcal 24%
Carbohydrates 29g 10%
Protein 22g 44%
Fat 31g 48%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Polyunsaturated Fat 17g 100%
Cholesterol 84mg 28%
Sodium 1381mg 58%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 7g 14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.